Simon Rushworth
We don’t get to watch too many DVDs at rushonrock HQ but when we do we enjoy nothing more than a slice of real life live action.
And this month there’s a couple of cracking films out there as the UK’s ultimate rock and roll troubadour goes head to head with a bunch of skater thrash legends.
For the official lowdown on Frank Turner and Suicidal Tendencies on film read on.
Suicidal Tendencies – Live At The Olympic Auditorium (Suicidal Records)
Incredibly this is the first time legendary thrash crossover posse Suicidal Tendencies have been captured in all of their raw live glory and almost 30 years after their inception it’s high time the Venice CA band get their stab at DVD immortality.
And it’s well worth the wait. Frontman Mike Muir has always been one of rock’s most engaging characters and he cajoles the Olympic Auditorium crowd through 75 minutes of metal thrashing mad action. Kicking off with the uncompromising I Shot Reagan and ripping straight into the classic War Inside My Head this is truly mesmerising stuff. It’s not for those of a weak disposition but if you have the stomach for some pure rock fury then this is the DVD for you.
There are no extras – and why would you need them – as this is a film dedicated to capturing a band so at home in their favourite environment. The crowd is pumped up but the band is wild – twin guitarists Mike Clark and Dean Pleasants do a brilliant job backing madman Muir.
Bringing the curtain down on a cracking show with Pledge Your Allegiance this is a simple concept delivered with aplomb. And as a means of ushering in next year’s 30th anniversary celebrations it’s a pretty clever tool.
rushonrock rated: 8/10 Suicidal’s Watch
Frank Turner – Take To The Road Live 2009 (Xtra Mile Recordings)
Frank Turner is on a roll right now – both creatively and commercially – and this DVD/CD package is the perfect career resume for a singer/songwriter rapidly reaching the top of his game.
Two full live sets, from Shepherd’s Bush Empire last October and the Union Chapel two months later, encapsulate the emotion and professionalism Turner tends to deliver in equal measure. There’s plenty of overlapping but the former Million Dead man has a knack for making every song of every set ever so slightly different.
Throw in seven promo clips and three short but sweet tour diaries and if you’ve never come across Turner before then this is the perfect introduction to one of the UK’s most relevant performers. Part entertainer, part mouthpiece for the modern generation, Turner tackles matters of the heart and political hot potatoes with equal voracity and aplomb.
Both sets feature The Ballad Of Me And My Friends – it’s the set closer at the Union Chapel – and if you want to assess Turner on one song then check this out. It’s superb but then there’s barely a dull moment on either the DVD or CD. Excellent stuff.
rushonrock rated: 9/10 Turner Prize